National briefs

The Victorian government has chosen the longer of two potential routes as its preferred option for a proposed multibillion-dollar road tunnel under Melbourne’s inner-western suburbs. Roads Minister
Tim Pallas
said construction would not begin until at least 2013. Mathew Dunckley

The West Australian government has approved a $10 million financial assistance package for the owners of up to 137 properties that were razed or damaged in a major bushfire in Toodyay, north-east of Perth, last December. Half of the package will be funded by state-owned utility Western Power, whose fallen pole was found to have sparked the blaze, although it denies liability.Peter Kerr

East Timorese President
Jose Ramos Horta
believes his tiny country has a humanitarian obligation to accept an Australian proposal to host a regional asylum seeker centre, but insists Dili will not foot the bill and the deal must only be temporary. He said a detention centre for thousands of asylum applicants could cost the Australians and any other contributors about $US30 million ($30.4 million) for infrastructure, and perhaps the same amount in annual running costs. Immigration Minister
Chris Bowen
holds talks in Dili today. Another boat of asylum seekers was intercepted off Christmas Island yesterday. AFP

Foreign Affairs Minister
Kevin Rudd
says Australia will raise the plight of the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner with the Chinese government. Democracy campaigner
Liu Xiaobo
is serving an 11-year jail sentence for helping to write a document calling for freedom of speech and assembly. His wife,
Liu Xia
, has reportedly been placed under house arrest after visiting her husband over the weekend to tell him of his award. AAP